British landlords and tenants urged to focus on inventories

There can be little doubt that the rental market in the UK has changed in the last few years as Brits have found it harder than ever to afford a mortgage that would allow them to buy their own first property.

This has meant that the average length of a tenancy has increased from a matter of months to multiple years, with many more families becoming tenants rather than owners.

What this has done though is make the moving out period more of an issue, with a higher level of acrimony becoming prevalent between parties who have different opinions on the return of security deposits.

Landlords are permitted to subtract a certain level for damage to items, missing lightbulbs and any cleaning costs they are likely to incur before finding a new tenant.

This does not reduce the number of disputes that occur though, and the Association of Residential Letting Agents (Arla) has suggested that the only clear way to make it obvious is to ensure an in depth inventory is present and agreed to by both parties before moving in.

For example, detailed descriptions of all fixtures and fittings, including their condition will be essential. Vagueness will leave things open to debate, and this can mean more issues when deciding over the deposit return.

In addition to this, it will be vital to ensure that everyone is aware of what they are obligated to do. For example, a tenant will be liable for dirt and grime, as well as changing lightbulbs, while the owner will be responsible for replacing all items with fair wear and tear, as well as replacing items damaged with their landlord insurance if it is not the fault of the tenant.

If these documents are done well and put into place at the start of the tenancy, it can make for a far easier moving out process for both parties, ensuring fewer disputes and allowing everything to flow easier.